From the Pastor’s Heart...
Dear First Baptist Family,
It is hard for me to believe that this month I will complete one year as your
pastor. Time flies when you are having fun…and making friends…and serving
Jesus! I began at First Baptist Church toward the end of December last year, so I
am looking forward to experiencing this exciting month with you in its entirety
this year.
In the month of December, I am going to be preaching about “Something
New.” Everyone expects to get something new this time of year: a new toy, a
new outfit, a new game, some new gift that has that still-in-the-box, recentlypurchased, never-been-owned-before appeal. You are probably going to be
doing some shopping this month for something new for that special someone.
I want to lead you from Scripture to experience something new each Sunday
this month. On December 2, I will be preaching about “A New Commitment
to the Gospel.” Building on the “Generations” theme of last month, I will be
challenging families to be gospel-centered. On December 9, we will consider
the marching orders of the church and turn to Scripture to gain “A New Zeal
for the Great Commission.” I pray that will lead us to another great offering
for international missions and another great year of personal missions
involvement.
On December 16 and 23, I will focus on the story of Christ’s Incarnation. We
will find in God’s Word “A New Hope for a Hurting World” and take “A New Look
at a Familiar Scene.” I believe we will see that Christmas is so much more than
shopping and rushing around. Christmas means the possibility of a relationship
with God and hope for lost humanity. We will take time to linger around the
manger and ponder these truths.
December always brings the promise of a new year full of new opportunities,
so on the final Sunday of 2012 we will look to Scripture for “A New Challenge
for a New Year.” Something great, something awesome, something new is in
store for First Baptist Church! I look forward to a great new year of serving Jesus
together.

I love being your pastor!
Dan Spencer

Page 2 | First Baptist Church of Sevierville

Craig Mintz
Associate Pastor of Young Adults & Discipleship

Ten years ago, a young Turkish man living in Northern
Europe heard the Gospel because you gave to the
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International
Missions. Ali was quiet and reserved.* He was a young
Turkish Muslim just hoping to make a better life in a
land not his own.
To get a good job, he was studying the local language
in the same class where my wife, Jessica, and I were
studying. He was hard to get to know, but I did my
best to pierce his outer shell with hopes of sharing
the Good News. Then, abruptly, Ali decided to leave
in the middle of our term and return to Turkey. I knew
I would probably never see him again and I knew he
had never heard the Gospel. As he took a smoke break
on his last day, I asked the Lord for courage as I shared
the Gospel with him. He did not repent and believe
on that day, but I pray when I think of him that he will
before it’s too late.
For countless others, it is already too late. More than
2,000 years after the Great Commission, there are still
numerous people groups with millions of people who
have no church or witness among them. Every dollar
you give changes that statistic. Your generosity made
it possible for Jessica and me to live overseas among
a group of people who are largely unreached with the
Gospel. Will you give sacrificially this year so that even
more will have the opportunity to hear the hope you
have in Jesus?
*Name changed for security purposes

DECEMBER 2 & 3; 6:30pm/WC
We are thrilled to be presenting our 9th Annual
Singing Christmas Tree. This event has become
a must to begin the season of celebrating
the birth of our Savior. This year will be no
different. Come and join us on either Sunday
night, December 2nd or Monday night,
December 3rd for our presentation of SEASON
OF JOY.

Sonrise Seniors

Tuesday, December 4; 9:00am/Parlor

PEP Moms

Friday, December 7; 9:15am/Parlor
Join us for this time of food, fellowship and
devotion. Special guest: Vicky Byram. We will
also be having our annual cookie swap.

Dec.

Spirited Singleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christmas Dinner

Thursday, December 13; 6:00pm/Parlor
Special Guests: Dan & Tresa Spencer. Please
sign up at Welcome Center or call church
office.

January 1-4
There will be around 70,000 college students
in the Georgia Dome worshiping with folks
like Chris Tomlin, LeCrae, Francis Chan,
Louie Giglio, Matt Redman, Beth Moore and
John Piper. Cost is $275, will increase after
December 1, get your money to Amanda in
the church office soon!

Special Announcements
Church Office Holiday Hours
Christmas
Closed December 24 & 25
New Years
Closed January 1

CARE GIVER FRIENDS

We will not meet in December, next meeting
will be January 13th.

Online Giving

Contributions may be made online by visiting
the church website at www.fbcsev.org. Giving is
simple, easy and secure.Â

Christmas Store Host/Hostess Training

If you would like to serve as a host or hostess
during our Christmas Store and you are 16 or
older, please attend our training on December 5th;
6:30pm/Parlor. We have a particular need for folks
who can speak Spanish. If you have any questions
please call Kristie in the church office at 429-6303.

Christmas Store Project 2012

We are now collecting new and unwrapped
toys for our Store. We have a special need
for toddler and youth items. Collection bins
are placed throughout the church. Monetary
donations are also appreciated. We also have a
specific need for people who speak Spanish to
serve as host/hostess during our store. We need
hundreds of volunteers to help set up on Friday,
December 7th and for the store on Saturday,
December 8. No signups are needed to be a
volunteer, just come and help when you can!

Sympathy to
• Art Gunningham in the passing of his wife, Amanda
• Micki Ownby in the passing of her mother, Julia Lowe
• Liz Gibson in the passing of her step mother, Flo Schimmel
• Melody Shampine in the passing of her father
• Rita Laymon in the passing of her father
• Laurie Palmer in the passing of her mother, Audrey Sprout
• Kathy Fields in the passing of her brother
• Jay Pierce in the passing of his father, Jay Pierce Sr
• Family & friends in the passing of Velda Seagle
• Randy Hodge in the passing of his father, JB

Thank You Notes

• The following families wish to express their deep appreciation to the
church for kindness shown during their recent loss:
Family of Julia Lowe
Family of Mike Shultz
• The following families wish to express their appreciation for support
from the church:
Joe Richard

Page 4

Attendance Report

10/28/2012

11/4/2012

11/11/2012

11/18/2012

503
1169
1185
500

647
1325
1415
554

583
1287
1145
335

571
1264
1191
390

11/11/2012

11/18/2012

$

$

8:15am Worship
9:30am SS
10:45am Worship
6:30pm Worship

Biblical Stewardship

10/28/2012

$

Total Weekly Needs
Tithes & Offerings
Building Fund
Designated Fund

92,822.23
70,218.97
1,306.00
5,727.31

11/4/2012
$

86,177.00
96,887.53
521.00
4,994.50

86,177.00
71,490.24
1,486.00
6,780.49

86,177.00
81,947.68
771.00
5,146.40

FBC on Mission

Scott Andrews
Associate Pastor of Worship/Missions
In our last article, we left out our team that went
to the Ukraine to minister to orphans with Hope
House International. Our team went the end of
May and first of June. We also listed trips being
planned for 2013. Below you will find a few more
details. In the coming weeks, we’ll be making lists
of those who would like to go on which trips…this
will help us in planning and making detailed travel
arrangements. Right now we just need to know
your interest. Even though there is a lot going on
with the Holiday Season, take time to think about
how the Lord might use you on mission in 2013.
Haiti: February 24 – March 9
This team will go one of these two weeks to assist
in the rebuild that continues in Haiti. This is a
mission trip that requires special skills.
Guatemala: March
The dates are not firm as of yet but we will be

Send questions or comments to newsletter@fbcsev.org
done over the course of a two-week period. You

Italy: Fall 2013

don’t have to commit to both weeks.

We are planning on joining with the
Tennessee Baptist Convention partnership in

Nairobi, Kenya (Orbit): May 31 – June 12

reaching this country for Christ. We have been

We will be conducting a Music Camp with the kids

asked to send a team of 6–10 in September or

of Orbit Village and then presenting the musical in

October of 2013. We will be doing door-to-door

the largest Baptist Church in Nairobi. Our Church

evangelism, English Camp, and neighborhood

has had a relationship with the Orbit Village and

outreach events.

many of our members sponsored their boys and
girls. This effort will be one of the largest we have

Brazil: Late Summer/Fall 2013

ever undertaken and we are excited about what

Details are still being determined but many of

God will be doing through this mission trip.

you have expressed interest in returning to Rio
and we have been asked to take on several

Crossover Houston: June 7 – 8

projects, which include medical clinics,

This mission trip is part of the evangelistic effort

evangelistic efforts and VBS.

the Southern Baptist Convention conducts prior
to the Convention in the host city. Possibilities

Montana: 2013

include door-to-door witnessing, block parties and

We have plans to assist our partnership church,

church community events.

Gallatin Valley Baptist Fellowship in Manhattan,
but details are yet to be worked out.

Delaware: July 7 – 12

This has become an annual outreach event for our
assisting former member and now missionary John partnership church, High Tide in Bethany Beach,
Tarwater.
Delaware. We conduct Music Camp with the boys
Cincinnati, Ohio: April 14 – 27
This is a partnership through the Tennessee Baptist
Convention that we are beginning this year. This

you. Being part of a short-term mission project
will be one of the greatest blessings of your life.

project will require a construction team and will be

Enough is Enough

With so many people lining up to make
purchases this month, what would happen
if...instead of buying the newest computer
or tablet we gave our money away freely
to provide clean drinking water in India or
help liberate girls caught in sex trafficking
in Nepal? With the money we spend
buying things that will be out of date
in three months, we could provide a
local family with more than enough food
and clothing to last for months.

This time of year we seem to really like stuff.
We’re constantly looking through newspaper
advertisements or looking on amazon.com
or eBay for a better deal on the newest thing.
This is, as they say, the season of giving. But
what if we completely shifted that paradigm
of giving? What if, instead of giving with an
expectation of receiving, we gave knowing
we wouldn’t get anything (in this life, at least) “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on
in return?
earth, where moth and rust destroy and
where thieves break in and steal, but lay up
All around us people are hurting and in need. for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where
To see the truth in that statement, simply turn neither moth nor rust destroys and where
on the local news or spend 30 minutes in
thieves do not break in and steal. For where
Starbucks. You’ll see and hear stories of
your treasure is, there your heart will be
people who are in need this Christmas season. also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Dear Christian, this holiday season I humbly
ask you to examine your heart and to see
where your treasure is. Is it in acquiring the
things of this world or is it in providing for the
least of these so that you may lay up treasure
for yourself in Heaven?